Alleluia! Jesus lives forever! The tomb is empty! The stone is rolled away! Jesus has risen from the grave! Alleluia!
Many people, even Christians, find the above praises odd. For them, Easter ended Sunday or never actually began. Easter was merely a holiday, a remembrance of an event 2000 years ago that doesn't seem to have much to do with the present. Most people have obviously not met the living, risen Christ.
However, we can have Easter now and meet the living Jesus by obeying Him. He may tell us to go to Church every day at 3pm (see Acts 3:1), to command a cripple to be healed, to take a long walk and talk about the Bible (Lk 24:13ff), or to go to an evening Mass (Lk 24:29-30). We may do these or other things several times without a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. However, finally the lame will walk, our hearts will be on fire (Lk 24:32), or our eyes will be opened (Lk 24:31).
The risen Jesus comes to those at the right place at the right time, whether it's at the tomb, in the upper room, or at the Sea of Galilee – at dawn, 3pm, or as evening draws near (see Lk 24:29). The risen Jesus has made an appointment with you. He's telling you where and when to go. Just obey Him.
| PRAYER: | Risen Jesus, help me to be on time for my appointments with You. |
| PROMISE: | "Immediately the beggar's feet and ankles became strong; he jumped up, stood for a moment, then began to walk around." –Acts 3:7-8 |
| PRAISE: | Praise the risen Jesus, "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25), Who awaits our unity with Him now and forever! |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College